Grammar Lesson 18: Word Order, Buses and Services
Author: College of Liberal Arts, University of Texas at Austin
November 26, 2007
Duration: 10:56
asset title: Grammar Lesson 18: Word Order, Buses and Services
filename: tafalado_gra_18.mp3
track number: 44/46
time: 10:56
size: 7.69 MB
bitrate: 96 kbps
So how weird would it be to be a Brazilian in the United States and see for the first time a bicycle attached to the front of a city bus? Sure enough, that would never happen on a bus in Brazil. These are the kinds of observations that North Americans would never make because, well, we think it's normal. It's all a matter of perspective. This lesson talks about those kind of cultural differences, and we do so while going over a lesson about word order. (We know the title doesn't sound all that exciting, but it really is an interesting grammar topic -- if you are into language learning.)
Dialog
Portuguese
Michelle: Eu acho interessante que existam pessoas que colocam suas bicicletas na frente dos ônibus.
Valdo: Pois é, aqui nos Estados Unidos tem lugares específicos nos ônibus pra carregar bicicletas.
Michelle: Eh, e sobram motivos aqui para as pessoas levarem suas bicicletas na frente dos ônibus e irem sentadas.
Valdo: É verdade! Sempre acontecem coisas inesperadas quando se anda de bicicleta, por exemplo: chuva, o sol muito quente, ladeiras.
Michelle: De fato, sempre surge algum imprevisto que nos faz preferir o conforto do ar condicionado dos ônibus.
Valdo: Puxa, falta só esse serviço para o transporte público no Brasil ficar ótimo.
Spanish
Michelle: Yo creo que es interesante que existen personas que ponen su bicicleta en frente de los autobuses.
Valdo: Sí, aquí en los Estados Unidos hay lugares específicos en los autobuses para llevar bicicletas
Michelle: Sí y eso les dá el incentivo a las personas aquí para que lleven su bicicleta en frente del autobús para que se puedan sentar.
Valdo: Es verdad. Siempre nos suceden cosas inesperadas al andar en bicicleta, por ejemplo: la lluvia, el sol muy fuerte, escaleras.
Michelle: Además, siempre surge algo imprevisto que hace que se prefiera el confort del aire condicionado del autobús.
Valdo: Caramba, nos falta ese servicio para el transporte público en Brasil para que sea excelente.
English
Michelle: I think that it's interesting that there are people who put their bicycles in front of the buses.
Valdo: Yes, here in the United State we have specific places in front of the buses to carry bicycles.
Michelle: Yes and it give people a reason to carry their bicycles in front of the bus so that they can sit down.
Valdo: That's true. Unexpected things always happen when riding a bicycle, for example: rain, hot sun, ladders.
Michelle: In fact, some unexpected thing always comes up that makes you prefer the comfort of the air-conditioned bus.
Valdo: Gee, that's what we're missing in Brazil to make our public transportation system the best.
